Staying Fit
A virtual reality device designed to reduce stress and help you “see” the world, plus an earbud that translates conversations into 15 languages emerged from an AARP “shark tank” Thursday at the CES tech trade show with an opportunity to get AARP backing.
This was no ordinary pitch competition. The epitome of sharks — Daymond John of ABC Shark Tank fame — joined AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins in presiding over the hard-fought battle involving eight tech contenders. It was a rare opportunity for John, who swims nightly with other high-level investors making decisions on products looking for financing, to help create a new kind of competition for a good cause: AARP and the Consumer Technology Association Foundation’s desires to launch innovative products to serve Americans over 50. John said he wasn’t intimidated by the actual live sharks on display in a tank at a nearby casino. “Oh, the sharks at Mandalay Bay? Pfft!,” John said, “I went to Tiger Beach and swam with real sharks.”

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The two winners — StoryUP Healium and Waverly Labs — will compete again in October at a grand pitch finale at AARP national headquarters in Washington, D.C. StoryUp’s virtual reality (VR) device uses electroencephalogram (EEG) feedback to reduce stress and offer virtual travel opportunities to its users. Waverly’s earbud is able to interpret conversations almost in real time.
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